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20/11/2009 17:21:54
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NeilWarren
Posts 645
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Bumped into a very interesting chap on Ecademy - one Sunil Bali - who posted a thread with this headline. He then went on to explain....
"Every year I speak in schools to groups of 10-year-olds who are about to go to secondary school, and to groups of 16-year olds who are about to choose subjects for their A-level exams.
I love doing this as it's hugely rewarding to work with young people and to be able to inspire and motivate them. Before I explain why and how they can be, do or have anything they want, I like to gauge the mindset of my audience. One of the ways I do this is by putting up the following words:
opportunityisnowhere
It's revealing that in the 10-year-old group, typically over 80% of the students say they see:
opportunity is now here
However, in what is a sad indictment of our society today, in the group of 16-year-old students, typically over 60% say that they see:
opportunity is nowhere
A 300% increase in negative mindsets in only six years!
I should also point out that there are always a few children in both groups who see:
opportunity i snow here !
Research tells us that children up to pre-school age laugh about 300 times a day. 300 times! It's because to them life is one big happy event. They have what they need and aren't concerned in the least about what they don't have. Children are experts in the art of happiness. They're happy to see mum and dad, so they smile and laugh. They're happy to see their lunch, so they smile and laugh. They're happy to play with a ball, so they smile and laugh. They're happy!
As adults, we laugh about 15 times a day. So where does it go wrong?"
And I thought that might give you some food for thought on your "I'm an optimist" badge you wear!? (E.g. I wear one - and I saw "nowhere") 
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22/11/2009 13:31:41
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Rich34232
Posts 11
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I would love to know the answer to the question of opportunity is and allow them to answer it without influencing the answer. Opportunityisnowhere influences the first thing they see and can differentiate.
Adults looking at it have ehard the sky is falling so often the past few years that the negative spin is the first thing they see.The more you look at it the more you see other possibilities.
Kudos to what you are doing speaking to the adults of our future.
edited by Rich34232 on 22/11/2009
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22/11/2009 18:10:53
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NeilWarren
Posts 645
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Hi Rich
Actually it was Sunil doing the school speaking rounds, but I did throw in my h'apence worth on his thread and suggest he mentions to teachers and children that the route through a successful career in selling could be better lit than it currently is.
And feel free to join in spreading the word, if you agree with that. Because I think it will only happen when it becomes everyday conversation between sales people themselves, their families, their employers and so on. We need full recognition that this is not a profession for people who fail at something else. Not to mention that modern selling skills, personalities, attributes, techniques, knowledge, intellect, creativity, entrepreneurialism and so on, are all demanding of the very best of our young people (rewarded accordingly), rather than mavericks and failures.
And of course a positive attitude is going to be (just) one of those requirements.
Best - Neil
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08/01/2010 16:13:13
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Mr Bean
Posts 82
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To be effective in sales you have to be a realistic optimist. Pessmists are too negative, and unrealistic optimists are the one's who will do twice their target next month having done less than 50% of it for the last 8 months.
I, too, saw 'nowhere' but once it was pointed out could see the 'now here' and can appreciate the cleverness of this story.
Young children are inherently great salespeople. They ask all sorts of questions, never cease to close repeatedly (Daddy, can I have....) and want everything.
We then spend years telling them not to be nosey, to stop nagging and asking for things we don't want to/can't give them, and tell them not to be so demanding. It's not surprising their perceptions and attitudes change.
In a similar vein, we encourage babies to burp, fart and crap in their pants and then spend the next few years telling our fast growing offspring them to do none of those things. No wonder most of us are mixed up and confused in adulthood!
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08/01/2010 23:02:10
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AXLR8
Posts 1
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This is like the consistent human behaviour we have laughed about for the last 6 years advertising the AXLR8 Triathlon (our company's annual community charity event). We hand out fliers to thousands of people finishing other events to promote our charity triathlon in Crowthorne. Most just want to rest (after 10k up to 20 miles running). So you have to catch their eye and say something like "Well done!", or "Glad to see you're still smiling". Then most accept your advert in their hand and don't just drop it as they walk away.
Anyway, to the point. One of the meaningless ice breakers is "Are you pleased with that time?".
Here is data. You figure it out.
80% of people asked if they are pleased with their time who have just completed an outstanding half marathon in less than 1hr 20 are really grumpy about their time and snarl "No....". (Often the rest begins with "F"!)
90% of struggling in after 2hrs and worse are absolutely delighted with their performance.
Some sales managers already to know this human trait!!!
NB: For the numerate marketeers: sample size is approximately 8000-12000 fliers handed out per year with at least a quarter being asked this question so well over 10,000 people in the South of England have taken part in this "experiment" since 2004!
edited by AXLR8 on 08/01/2010
edited by AXLR8 on 08/01/2010
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09/01/2010 17:05:46
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NeilWarren
Posts 645
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"F" as in....
Fffinally! - Ffffinished!! - Ffflipping 'eck - a Fffflyer!?
AXLR8?
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